P.K. Subban denies there were rifts that led to trade

Defenseman says he had no problems with former Canadiens teammates

Defenseman P.K. Subban, who was traded to the Nashville Predators by the Montreal Canadiens on June 29, said he was surprised by some people saying it was because of strained relationships with his teammates.

"I'd have to disagree with that," Subban told Sportsnet in the second of a two-part interview released Thursday. "We're all different, but at the end of the day, I'd like to hope these guys respect me and I respect them and that's really what it's been built on."

Subban was in Montreal for his first television appearance since he was traded for defenseman Shea Weber. Subban and captain Max Pacioretty had to address rumors of a rift between them when the Canadiens cleaned out their lockers in mid-April.

Subban had 63 goals, 215 assists and 532 penalty minutes in 434 games with the Canadiens from 2009-15. He was an NHL First Team All-Star twice (2013, 2015) and won the Norris Trophy as best defenseman in 2013.

"My memories of being a Montreal Canadian are all good," the 27-year-old said. "I am leaving the Montreal Canadiens, happy about playing there for six seasons and wearing the jersey. I can't comment on coaching decisions, management decisions, that's not on me. Whatever things are said about me, I can't comment on me either because I'm not saying them. At the end of the day, I just focused on what I could control, and while I was here that was how I played."

The Canadiens reached the Eastern Conference Final twice with Subban: in 2010, a five-game loss to the Philadelphia Flyers; and in 2014, a six-game loss to the New York Rangers. He said that couldn't have happened if he and his teammates were not on the same page.

"I just wish I could have won a Stanley Cup for that organization," Subban said. "For the city. I just don't have that opportunity to do that now so I have to focus on Nashville. ... We made it to two Eastern Conference Finals, which is not that far from the Stanley Cup, not that far from the Stanley Cup Finals. In order to get there, you have to have good guys in the room."